eyesson



(No Model.)

M. v. B. EVESSON.

TREADLE ATTAGHMENT TO ROCKING CHAIRS. No. 290.634. Patented Dec. 18, 1 883.

ATTORNEYS N. FTER$ Phulaulhogrnphur. Wuhingh'm- 04 C NlTE STATES 'ATENT Grinch.

MARTIN V. B. EVESSON, OF HOBOKEN, NE\V JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,634, dated December 18, 1883. Application filed August 10, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAR IN V. B. EvnssoN, of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treadle Attachments for Rocking-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a simple and inexpensive treadle attachment to rockingchairs, by which rocking-chairs can be easily kept in motion and with little fatigue to the muscles of the legs; and the invention consists of a treadle that is supported at its front end on rollers and pivoted at its rear part to suitable bearings of the rockers of the chair. The body of the treadle is made adjustable in a longitudinal direction on an auxiliary supportiiigpiece, so as to be lengthened or shortened and provided with means whereby it is locked in position on the auxiliary piece.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a rockingchair with my improved treadle attachment. Fig. 2 is a detail bottom view of the attachment, showing its connectionwith the rocking-chair; and Fig. 3 is a detail vertical transverse section on line a at, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the base-rails of a rocking or oscillating chair, and B a treadle that is connected by a transverse shaft, 1), at its rear end, supported in suitable bearings, I), attached to the rockers A. The front end of the treadle B is supported on rollers d d, the shaft or shafts of which turn in suitable bracket-bearings, d, attached to the under side of the treadle B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The body of the treadle B is preferably made of two parts-an auxiliary part, B, that is secured to the transverse shaft 6, and the main part B, the latter being guided by bottom rails on the auxiliary piece B, and locked into suitable position thereto by a springcatch, 6, that engages recesses e of the piece B, or by any other approved mechanism by which the rigid connection of the treadle B with the auxiliary piece B is established after the treadle B has been adjusted to the proper length. By making the treadle B adjustable on the auxiliary piece B, it can be extended to a greater or less distance from the shaft, according to the convenience of the party using the chair. While the chair is in motion the feet rest on the treadle, a slight pressure thereon being sufficient to keep the chair in rocking or oscillating motion without resting the feet on the floor. The treadle follows the rocking motion of the chair, its rear part oscillating up and down, while the front part moves back and forth on the rollers, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The legs remain always in place on the seat of the chair without requiring to be raised or lowered, the rocking being accomplished by the pressure exerted on the treadle by the play of the ankle-joints, while the other parts of the body remain at rest.

Another advantage of the treadle attachment is, that it reduces the strain on the arms and back of the chair, as there is no sudden jerking motion that will tend to draw the posts out of their sockets. The result is, that the rocking motion is accomplished with greater facility and less effort and in a manner by which the greater part of the body is at rest,

while the slight pressure of the feet accomplishes the work.

The attachment may also be used for rocking-horses and similar rocking articles. It may also be connected to other parts of the chair-for instance, to hangers attached to the chair-seat and provided with bearings at their lower ends; but it is preferable to apply the same to the front end of the rockers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A treadle attachment for rocking-chairs, provided at one end with means, substantially as set forth, whereby it may be fastened to the rockers of the chair, and at the other end with supporting-rollers, said treadle being composed of a main part having grooved rails and provided with a spring lock or catch, and an auxiliary part having rails which slide in the grooves of the rails of the main part, one rail being provided with holes for receivin g the spring-lock, whereby the treadle may be horizontally contracted or extended, substantially as described.

2. The eombination, with a rocking-chair,

of the rook-shaft b, journaled in the rockers 5 of the chair, the main body B, having grooved rails, the auxiliary part having recesses, and

the locking device 0 substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN V. B. EVESSON.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPnL, CARL KARP. 

